Rotary engine.



No. 676,729. Patefitaii June l8, i901.

E. A. STEWART.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Max. 28, 1900., (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

W/TNESSES: /NVENTO/? ATTORNEYS No. 676,729. Patented lune I8, I90l..

E. A. STEWART.

ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Mar. 23, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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ATTORNEYS m: nonms vnzas co. FHOTO-LITHQ. WASHYIFGTOM. 0. c

Patented June. I8, I90! E. AVS-TEWART. ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Mar. 23, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

WITNESSES (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFEQJE.

EDWARD ARCHIE STEWART, OF TROY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO FRANK E.SCOBEY, OF SAME PLACE, SHERMAN T. MOPI-IERSON, OF CINCINNATI, AND ELVAA. JACKSON, OF TIPPECANOE, OHIO.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent N 0. 676,729, dated June18, 1901.

Application filed March 23, 1900. Serial No. 9,923. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD ARCHIE STEW- ART, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Troy, in the county of Miami and State ofOhio, have invented a new and Improved Rotary Engine, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to rotary engines in which the motive agent actsby impact force on buckets in the peripheral surface of the piston.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rotaryengine which is simple and durable in construction, very effective inoperation, and arranged to utilize the motive agent expansively and tothe fullest advantage in high or low pressure cylinders, to allow ofconveniently starting the engine with either a light or a heavy load,and to permit of reversing the engine whenever desired.

The invention consists ofnovel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out inthe claims.

A'practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure l is a perspective View of the improvement. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional elevation of the same on the line 2 2 in Fig. 3.Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.Fig. 4 is an enlarged end elevation of the governor with parts insection. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the admission andexhaust valves, and Fig. L3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of avalve-link.

The improved engine is provided with a plurality of cylinders A A A A ofdifferent diameters, and the cylinderA is a highpres sure cylinder, andthe succeeding cylinders A A A are low-pressure cylinders. The severalcylinders are mounted on a suitable base B, and through the severalcylinders extends centrally the main shaft C, on which are securedcylindrical pistons D D D D mounted to rotate in the several cylinders AA A A respectively, as is plainly indicated in Fig. 2. The cylinders andtheir pistons are the same in construction except as to size, aspreviously'mentioned, and hence it suffices to describe but one pistonand cylinder in detail.

Each of the pistons is provided in its peripheral surface with pairs ofbuckets D", said pairs of buckets being located a distance apart, as isplainly indicated in Fig. 3, a packing D being in the peripheral surfaceof the piston between adjacent pairs of buckets. Each of the cylindersis provided witha plurality of steam -chests E E E containing valvesFand connected by supply-pipes G with a main supply-pipe G, connectedwith a boiler or other suitable source of motiveagent supply. Thesteam-chests E E E and their Valves F are grouped around a cylinder anequal distance apart, and from each steamchest lead two ports ab to theperipheralsurface of the corresponding piston to allow the motive agentto enter the buckets and rotate the piston in the desired direction andto allow the exhaust motive agent to pass from the buckets, ashereinafter more fully described.

Each of the valves F is provided with a diametrical port a for thepassage of live motive agent from the supply-pipe to the port a, orb-that is, whichever of the two ports is the admission-port at the time.In the sides of each valve F are cavities d for allowing the exhaustmotive agent to pass from a pair of buckets through the correspondingport 1) or a by way of the steam-chest of the adjacent cylinder.

As shown in Fig. 3, the valves F are in such position that the ports 0connect the supplypipes G with the ports a, so that the latter are theadmission-ports, while the ports I) are the exhaust-ports and connectwith one of the cavities d. The cavity clconducts the exhaust-steam fromthe first engine by way of a channel 6 to the port 0 of the valve F ofthe second cylinder A, as shown in Fig. 2, and the exhaust-steam fromthis cylinder passes by way of the cavity in the valve F through a pipef to the port 0 of the valve F in the third cylinder A and the exhaustfrom this cylinder passes by way of the exhaust in the valve F through achannel g to the valve F of the fourth cylinder A and the exhaust insaid'cylinder A passes from the exhaust in the valve F to a pipe h forconducting the exhaust-steam to the outside.

As shown in Fig. 3, the several ports Ct b are arranged in such a mannerrelatively to the pairs of buckets D that when one pair of bucketsreceives motive agent from, say, the steam-chest E then the ports a b ofthe steamehest E are both cut off from the corresponding buckets, andlikewise the ports a b of the steam-chest E are also cut off; but whenthe piston D rotates and the pair of buckets at the port a, leading fromthe steam-chest E, is cut off then the pair of buckets at the port orfrom the steam chest E begin to take steam, and when these buckets-arecut off from said port a then the ports a at the steamchest E takesteam, so that one pair of buckets always receives motive agent, wherebya continuous impulse is given to the piston D when the engine isrunning. By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the distancebetween the inner ends of a pair of ports a b is approximately doublethe length of a pair of buckets D to prevent any suction or pressurefrom the exhaust back upon the piston. When the valves F are in theposition shown in Fig. 3, the, piston D is rotated in the direction ofthe arrow a, and when the position of the valves F is changed to connectthe ports 0 of said valves with the ports b then the engine is reversed,as the piston D will then rotate in the inverse direction of the arrowa.

It is evident that the exhaust motive agent from the first cylinder A ispassed into the second cylinder A to act on the buckets of the piston Din the same manner as described in reference to the cylinder A, but withexpansive force, and a like action takes place in the cylinders A A asthey receive motive agent from the preceding cylinders. Thus by thearrangement described the motive agent is utilized to the fullestadvantage and expansively.

The several valves F are simultaneously set to the desired position bythe operator for running the engine either in' a forward or reversedirection, as desired, and, if desired, the valves can be set in aninactive position with the ports cbetween the ends of the ports a b- Ithat is, out of register with either of them.

When the engine is running, the actuating device for the valves can beconnected with of the cylinder A, and on said lever is ar ranged ahand-lever H, adapted to engage a notched segment H for locking the saidlever in position for running the engine forward or backward or forstopping the engine when the valves F are in an intermediate position,as above explained. The lever H is pivotally connected by links I withcrank-arms F on the stems F of the several valves F in the steam-chestsE E E so that when the lever H is shifted into either of the threepositions mentioned then the said valves F assume correspondingpositions in their steam-chests. On one of the wrist-pins H of the leverH is adapted to be hooked a link J, connected with a bell-crank lever J,fulcrumed on the engine-frame, and the said bell-crank lever J isconnected by a link J with a bell-crank lever J likewise fulcrumed onthe engine, and connected by a link J with a three-armed. lever Hmounted to turn loosely on the shaft 0 between the somewhat-separatedcylinders A A as shown in Fig. 2. The lever H is connected by links Iwith crank-arms F on the valve-stems F of the valves controlling themotive agent in the cylinders A A The bell-crank lever J is alsoconnected by a link J with a bell-crank lever J connected by a by linksI with crank-arms F on the valvestems F for the valves controlling theadmission and exhaust of the motive agent for the cylinder A It isevident that when the lever H is shifted the link Jtimparts motion tothe connection above described, so that the several valves F of all thecylinders are position relatively to the ports leading from thesteamchests to the cylinders.

When the engine is running, the link J can be disconnected from thewrist-pin H and then the hook-opening in said link is closed \by a boltJ pressed on bya spring J to close the opening in the hook, so that saidlink J rides loosely over the wrist-pin, and consequentlyjthe positionof the valves F in the low-pressure cylinders A A A is not affected,while the governor K changes the positions of the valves F in thehigh-pressure cylinder A. The governor K is mounted on asuitablyconstructed frame K, attached to the front end of thesteam'chest E, as is plainly shown in the drawings, and in said frame isjournaled a shaft L, carrying a pulley L, connected by a belt L with theshaft 0 or a pulley thereon, so that when the shaft 0 is rotated arotary motion is given to the shaft L. On the latter is also secured abevel gear-wheel N, in mesh with a bevel-gear wheel N, mounted to rotateon a hub K formed on the frame K, as is plainly shown in Fig. 4,andthrough said hub K extends loosely a sleeve 0, and through the sleeveextends loosely a stem 0. The top of the sleeve 0 is engaged by a collarP on weighted levers P, fulcrumed on links P pivotally connected withthe top of the gearwheel N, and on said links P are also pivotedweighted levers Q, connected with a sleeve Q, secured on the stem 0. Thelevers P and Q cross each other, as shown in Fig. 4,

link J with a three-armed lever H connected I simultaneously adjustedand set to the same so that said levers swing in opposite directions bycentrifugal force, whereby the sleeve 0 and the rod 0 are simultaneouslymoved in opposite directions to each other. The lower ends of the sleeve0 and the stem 0 are connected by links 0 O with the side arms of athree-armed lever R, mounted to turn loosely on the valve-stem ll of theupper valve F, the said lever having its depending arm connected by alink R with a locking-bolt R carried by the lever H and extendingthrough an elongated slot R in said link. In starting the engine thebolt R is loosened sufficiently to allow free swinging movement of thelever H without moving the link R; but after the lever is adjusted tothe desired position and the engine is running then the link R issecured to the lever by the bolt R WVhen the engine runs above a normalrate of speed, the weighted levers P and Q cause a swinging of thethree-armed lever R, and the motion of the latter is transmitted by thelink R to the lever H, so that theyalves F for the high-pressure engineare shifted to reduce the admission of motive agent to theadmission-ports a or 1) until the speed of the engine is reduced. Whenthis takes place,the weighted levers P and Q cause the three-armed leverR to move the lever H back to its normal position. It is understood thatthe other valves F for the cylinders A A A remain unobstructed duringthe shifting of the levers II and the valves F for the high-pressurecylinder A, as the link J rides loosely over the wrist-pin H during thetime the engine is running.

In case of a very heavy load it is desirable to start the pistons D D inthe cylinders A A with live motive agent, and for this purpose thefollowing arrangement is made: From the main supply-pipe G leads abranch pipe G connected by branch pipes G G with the steam-chests E ofsaid cylinders to allow the motive agent to pass through the valves F tothe peripheral buckets of the pistons D D to turn the same by livemotive agent. In the branch pipe G is a valve Gr under the control ofthe operator, so as to open the connection between the main supplypipe Gand the said steam-chests whenever desired or to close the connectionafter the engine is started. Normally the steam-chests E of thecylinders A A are closed to the branch pipes G3 G by gravity-valves (Sshown in Fig. 2) to prevent exhaust-steam from passing into the pipes GG while the engine is running with the cylinders A A as low-pressurecylinders, as above explained. When live motive agent, however, isturned on by opening the valve G then the valves S swing into an openposition to allow the motive agent to pass to the valves F of the saidcylinders A A In order to actuate the valve G the stem G 'thereof isprovided with a crank-arm G, connected by a link T with a crank-arm T onthe upper end of a vertically-disposed shaft T carrying at its lower endahandle T having a lockinglever T adapted to engage a notched segment Tas indicated in Figs. 1 and 3.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- 1. A rotary engine, comprising a cylinder, apiston mounted to turn therein and formed in its periphery with bucketsarranged in pairs, a plurality of steam chests grouped around saidcylinder and each connected by an admission-port and an exhaust-portwith said cylinder, and a valve mounted to turn in each steam-chest, tocontrol the admission and exhaust of the motive agent to and from saidcylinder and said buckets of the piston, substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. A rotary engine, comprising a cylinder, a piston mounted to turntherein and formed in its periphery with buckets, a plurality ofsteam-chests grouped around said cylinder and each connected by anadmission-port and an exhaust-port with said cylinder, and a valvemounted to turn in each steam-chest to control the admission and exhaustof the n1otive agent to and from said cylinder and said buckets of thepiston, said valves being so arranged relatively to the buckets that oneof the buckets is always under continuous pressure of steam from asteam-admission port, as set forth.

3. A rotary engine, comprising a cylinder, a piston mounted to turntherein and formed in its periphery with buckets, arranged in pairsalined around the periphery, the pairs of buckets being spaced apart, aplurality of steam-chests grouped around said cylinder and eachconnected by an admission-port and an exhaust-port with said cylinder,the distance between the inner ends of a pair of ports beingapproximately double the length of a pair of buckets to prevent suctionor pressure from the exhaust back upon the piston, and a valve mountedto turn in each steam-chest to control the admission and exhaust of themotive agent to and from said cylinder and said buckets of the piston,said valves and ports of the steam-chests being so arranged relativelyto the pairs of buckets that when a pair of buckets is receiving steamfrom one steam -chest, the ports of the other steamchests are cut offfrom the corresponding buckets. V

4:. A rotary engine, comprising a high-pressure cylinder, a low-pressure cylinder, a main shaft mounted to turn centrally in said cylinders,pistons secured to said shaft and mounted to turn in said cylinders,each piston being formed in its periphery with buckets arranged inpairs, the pairs of buckets being spaced a distance apart, a pluralityof steamchests on each cylinder, each steam-chest being connected by anadmission-port and an exhaust port with the corresponding cylinder, anda valve adjustable in said steamchest, for successively controlling theadmission and exhaust of the motive agent to and from said buckets,'thearrangement being such that one pair of buckets of a piston is alwaysunder continuous pressure at a steamadmission port, as set forth.

5. A rotary engine, comprising a high-pressure cylinder, a low-pressurecylinder, a piston for each cylinder and having peripheral buckets, aplurality of steam-chests for each of the said cylinders, valves in thesteamchests for controlling the motive agent, means for setting thevalves for the high-pressure cylinder, and a removable connectionbetween said means and the valves for the low-pressure cylinder,substantially as shown and described.

6. A rotary engine, comprising a high-pressure cylinder, a plurality oflow-pressure cyl inders, a piston for each cylinder and havingperipheral buckets, a plurality of steamchests for each of saidcylinders, valves for the steam-chests for controlling the motive agent,a lever for setting the valves for the high-pressure cylinder, agovernor, a lever mounted to swing, and actuated from the said governor,and an adjustable connection between the said swinging lever and thelever for setting the valves for the high-pressure cylinder, for thepurpose set forth.

7. A rotary engine, comprising a high-pressure cylinder, a low-pressurecylinder, a piston for each cylinder and having peripheral buckets, ashaft on which the pistons are mounted, a plurality of steam-chests foreach of the said cylinders, valves in the steamchests for controllingthe motive agent, a lever loosely fulcrumed on the shaft, linksconnecting said lever with crank-arms on the stems of the several valvesof the high-pressure cylinder, and a removable connection between thesaid lever and the stems of the valves of the low-pressure cylinders.

8. In a rotary engine, a piston provided with peripheral bucketsarranged in pairs and alined around the periphery, opposing front andrear walls of each bucket of a pair being concave and intersecting eachother at an angle forming the bottom of the bucket.

9. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder, a piston mounted to turntherein and formed in its periphery with buckets arranged in pairs, thebuckets of each pair being in alinement around the periphery, and thepairs of buckets being spaced apart, the peripheral surface of thepiston between adjacent pairs of buckets being provided with a packing,each bucket of a pair having its front and rear walls concave, theconcave walls intersecting each other at an angle forming the bottom ofthe bucket, a plurality of steamchests grouped around said cylinder andeach connected by an admission-port and an exhaust-port with saidcylinder, and a valve mounted to turn in each steam-chest to control theadmission and exhaust of the motive agent to and from said cylinder andsaid buckets of the piston.

10. Arotary engine, comprisingahigh-pressure cylinder, a low-pressurecylinder, a piston for each cylinder and having peripheral buckets, 'ashaft on which the pistons are mounted, a plurality of steam-chests foreach of the cylinders, valves in the steam-chests for controlling themotive agent, a lever loosely fulcrumed on the shaft, links connectingsaid lever with crank-arms on the stem of the several valves of thehigh-pressure cylinder, a link provided with a hook-opening adapted toremovably'engage a wrist-pin on the said lever and connections betweenthe said link and the valves for the low-pressure cylinder, the linkbeing provided with a spring-bolt for closing the hook-opening when thelink is disconnected from the wrist-pin, for the purpose specified.

11. A rotary engine comprising a series of cylinders arranged in pairs,one of the cylinders being a high-pressure cy1inder,and the remainingcylinders low-pressure cylinders, a piston for each cylinder and havingperipheral buckets,a shaft extending through the several cylinders andon which the pistons are mounted, a plurality of steam-chests for eachof the cylinders and connected by ports or passages with thecorresponding steam-chests of the ad jacent cy1inder,valves in thesteam-chests for controlling the admission and exhaust of the motiveagent, levers fulcrumed loosely on the shaft, one at each end of theseries of cylinders and one located in the space between the pairs ofcylinders, links connecting the said levers with crank-arms on the stemsof the respective valves of the several cylinders, connec tions betweenthe said levers whereby they may be actuated in unison to simultaneouslyadjust the several valves,a steam-supply pipe connected with thesteam-chests of the highpressure cylinder, and means for supplying someof the low-pressure cylinders with live motiveagent, for the purpose setforth.

12. Arotary engine,comprisingahigh-pressure cylinder, a plurality oflow-pressure cylinders, pistons mounted to turn in said cylinders,steam-chests provided with valves for controlling the admission andexhaust of the motive agent to and from said cylinders, a steam-supplypipe connected with the steamchests of the high-pressure cylinders,abranch pipe leading from the main supply-pipe and connected by pipeswith the steam-chests of some of the low-pressure cylinders to supplythe said cylinders with live motive agent to start the pistonsin saidcylinders, a valve in said branch pipe and under the control of theoperator, and gravity-valves located within the steam-chests of saidlow-pressure cylinders and normally closing communication be tween thesaid steam-chests and the pipes connected with the said branch pipe, forthe purpose set forth.

13. A rotary engine,comprising a high-pressure cylinder, a plurality oflow-pressure cylinders, pistons mounted to turn in said cylinders,steam-chests provided with valves for controlling the admission andexhaust of the motive agent to and from said cylinders, a

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steam-supply pipe connected with the steam- I vertically-disposed shafthaving a handle at chests'of the high-pressure cylinders,a branch oneend and a crank-arm at the other endconpipe leading from the mainsupply-pipe and nected by a link with the crank-arm on the connectedwith the steam-chests of some of stem of said valve, for the purpose setforth. the low-pressure cylinders to supply said cyl- In testimonywhereof I have signed my inders with live motive agent to start thepisname to this specification in the presence of tons in said cylinders,valves for normally two subscribing Witnesses.

closing connection between the steam-chests EDWARD ARCHIE STEWART.

of said low-pressure cylinders and the said Witnesses: branch pipe, avalve in said branch pipe, a J. S. FORZY, crank-arm on the stem of saidvalve, and a F. V. FLINN.

